Sociological approaches to the family

You need to state and explain the various theoretical approaches to the family; such as the functionalist, feminist and New Right perspectives.

Theory

The importance of the family

Functionalist

The function of the family is to socialise children, which in turn benefits both children and society.

Feminist

The purpose of the family is to reinforce the dominant position of men within a patriarchal society.

New Right

The role of the family is to teach children the difference between right and wrong, and to provide a sense of morality more widely known as ‘family values.’

Divorce and the decline of the family

Divorce has become more commonplace since the 1970s. This is due to several factors;

Feminism has altered the perception of what a wife might expect from a marriage

Women have become more financially independent of their husbands

Religious values have become less important

The process of gaining a divorce has been made easier

You also need to be aware of the consequences of such changes upon family members and the structure of families. One example would be the growing number of reconstituted (or blended) families. Another issue to consider is the decline of the nuclear family. This is due to several factors;

A greater acceptance within society of other types of family. For example cohabitation is no longer described as “living in sin.”

Women are now more wiling to consider alternatives to raising children within the nuclear family, which is partly due to the impact of feminism

Divorce is more socially acceptable than in previous generations

There is a greater willingness amongst many people to accept alternatives to the family (e.g. to live in a commune, or work on a kibbutz)

You also need to consider the rights of parents and children. For example children’s rights derive from laws designed to protect them from harm, such as preventing parents from using excessive force when disciplining their child. Children also have more material goods than in previous generations, but their freedom is restricted by parents due to the fear of “stranger danger.” This is more notable for girls.